Chapter Index

    When Bellington lifted the ball with his glove, An Sihun, who had already started running, was near second base. However, the ball was faster than a person, so if he hesitated, it would be a close call.

    ‘Can I catch it…?’

    After making his decision, Bellington aimed to throw the ball towards second base when,

    “…First!”

    A shout from the catcher behind him was heard. The decision was to throw to first base. Startled by the shout, Bellington momentarily lost balance. Ignoring that voice, Bellington tried to throw the ball to second base, but due to his disrupted balance, the throw did not go in the right direction.

    “Safe!”

    And the second base umpire’s call was accurate. Shortstop Yoon Sungtae jumped to catch the ball and tag An Sihun, but it was after An Sihun had touched the base.

    [Safe! With consecutive bunts, Hanchul Grizzlies seize the opportunity of having runners on first and second base!]

    Two bunts and two runners. Any pitcher would feel the pressure in such a situation. If this stage was the postseason, where the pressure was more intense than usual, there was no need to explain the pressure the pitcher felt.

    Bellington was also feeling that pressure.

    Being a long-serving mercenary in the KBA meant being a player dedicated to work ethics, and Bellington was a pitcher who had supported the crumbling AT Thunders’ pitching for three years. While most pitchers might have crumbled under such circumstances, Bellington had silently endured. Without complaining in difficult situations, he had dedicated himself quietly to the team.

    Therefore, for Bellington, the AT Thunders were not just any foreign team. Like other Korean players, Bellington was a player full of affection for the team.

    ‘I can’t crumble here! In this autumn battlefield that has come, with my team…! We will rise higher together!’

    In this situation, the first autumn baseball game in three years. Bellington was filled with a sense of responsibility to lead the team to victory,

    “Kim Junghyun hits it! High hit! It goes between center fielder and right fielder! An Sihun scores at home! Kim Dongjin advances to third base! Jimaengho catches the ball! Kim Dongjin is signaled to stop at third base! Hanchul Grizzlies add a run with Kim Junghyun’s double!”

    “Kim Junghyun’s hit was very good. AT’s relay play prevented further scoring, but now it’s runners on second and third base with no outs.”

    This time, that sense of responsibility became a burden. Fortunately for AT, Hanchul’s coach stopped the runner at third base considering Jimaengho’s shoulder. Following this crisis, AT’s pitching coach visited the mound,

    “What do you want to do? First base is empty, and if we walk Joo Seungcheol, the bases will be loaded with Lee Yongki waiting. It’s your call.”

    Currently, the most dangerous batter in Hanchul was Joo Seungcheol. The second most dangerous was Lee Yongki. While loading the bases is common in such situations, any choice made would be risky. AT’s pitching coach handed over the decision-making power to the ace pitcher who had dedicated himself to the team for a long time.

    Some might criticize it as passing the buck, but it was a gesture of respect to the ace who had solidly held the team’s mound for three years.

    “I’ll face off against Joo Seungcheol.”

    And Bellington’s choice was to face off against Joo Seungcheol.

    “Yeah, I’ll do it.”

    A crisis in the fifth inning. AT Thunders entrusted Bellington with the game, believing in him.

    -Joo Seungcheol! Joo Seungcheol! Joo Seungcheol!

    And all of Hanchul’s fans cheered for Joo Seungcheol with one heart and one mind. Joo Seungcheol, who had been evaluated as the closest hitter to the majors before Jimaengho’s debut, was a player who grew every year. Although he hadn’t achieved the record of 30-30 for three consecutive years due to injuries this season, he was a player in his prime, with an OPS rising compared to the previous year.

    ‘This showdown is the turning point of today’s game.’

    Many spectators watching the game naturally had such thoughts in their minds. And…

    Thunk—crack!

    On the fifth pitch, Joo Seungcheol’s bat swung like lightning.

    -Whoaaa!!

    [This hit goes to the left field wall! Left field wall! Left field wall! It’s over! Joo Seungcheol’s three-run homer! The son of a hero, Joo Seungcheol, becomes the hero who turns this game around!]

    [Indeed, blood cannot be fooled, right? Just like his brother, Joo Hyeongjin, who always delivers in crucial moments, known as a clutch hitter, his son, Joo Seungcheol, also shows his clutch qualities!]

    As Jamsil Stadium was engulfed in fervor, Joo Seungcheol unexpectedly began to move differently at the plate.

    [Huh? What’s this ceremony?]

    Joo Seungcheol’s knee bent as he aimed the bat. Unlike Ji Maengho’s ceremony from the day before, the difference was that the bat was not directed towards the left-field wall where the ball flew, but towards Ji Maengho standing on second base. After the bat made contact once, it elegantly soared through the air, as if it had been practiced.

    [Hahaha, Joo Seungcheol is getting back at yesterday. Ji Maengho, are you grimacing?]

    [Actually, since Ji Maengho performed that ceremony, many batters have expressed their desire to try it too in interviews, but except for Ji Maengho, no one else has ever done such a ceremony, you know? However, today Joo Seungcheol, in a true rivalry match fashion, gets his revenge from yesterday!]

    “His expression looks good.”

    “…Did you practice?”

    “Oh, yeah, I did some research watching your videos. Your ceremony was awesome.”

    “…Damn.”

    Passing by Ji Maengho, Joo Seungcheol scratched his inner self and moved on.

    “It feels dirty to be on the receiving end. Damn.”

    Seeing Joo Seungcheol like that, all Ji Maengho could do was curse. His mental state was shaken by that ceremony that targeted him. And the same went for the pitcher, Bellingham.

    After a storm passed, Bellingham faced the next batter, Lee Yongki, but ended up giving up a clean hit without recording any outs, allowing five consecutive batters to reach base. A butterfly effect starting from two bunt singles.

    In the end, AT’s dugout had no choice but to make a decision.

    [Bellingham is coming off the mound like this.]

    [Actually, after two bunt singles, it was visible that Bellingham was struggling, right? At least when he gave up a double to Kim Junghyun, a decision should have been made, but it’s regrettable. If it were the regular season, it wouldn’t matter, but today’s game is part of the playoffs, you know? It’s a pity about AT’s experience.]

    “[Raise your head, Bellingham. You did your best.]”

    “[…I’m sorry.]”

    Tears welled up in the eyes of the ace who had held the mound for three years, soothed by the coach’s words. Teammates were taken aback by the sight of Bellingham shedding tears for the first time, but they all turned their heads pretending not to see Bellingham’s tears.

    Thus, Bellingham’s sacrificial debut in autumn baseball for the team ended in tears, with Han Cheol adding two more runs to finish the bottom of the fifth inning. The momentum once lost did not seem to be returning.

    “Ah, damn!”

    Even Ji Maengho, whom all fans were eagerly anticipating, was shaken by Joo Seungcheol’s ceremony, retreated with a sacrifice bunt in the next plate appearance, and

    [Han Cheol adds another run.]

    The chaotic atmosphere continued without being rectified, as Han Cheol Grizzlies began to rack up fleeing scores. When the starting pitcher and the heart of the lineup, the fourth batter, faltered, AT’s players faltered together, and by the time the AT Thunders regained their composure, the score had already widened to 8-3.

    [Ji Maengho’s two-run homer! In the bottom of the eighth, Ji Maengho adds to the chasing score!]

    So in the bottom of the eighth, Ji Maengho chased after hitting a two-run homer, but

    [Although the lead has widened significantly, it’s now narrowed to a 3-run difference, right? It’s a save situation, so there’s still a chance for AT.]

    After a season-ending performance, Jung Tae-hwan, living up to his reputation as a closer with ample postseason experience, secured the lead and ended the game.

    [8:5! Game over! The balance of victory returns to square one!]

    [Just like the long-awaited Seoul rivalry game after 23 years in the fall baseball season, it was intense. It was truly an exciting match.]

    [Yesterday it was Ji Maeng-ho, today it’s Ju Seung-cheol. Who will be the hero of the third game?]

    *

    -[Pre-PO] Today’s hero is Ju Seung-cheol! Restoring the balance of victory.

    …Ju Seung-cheol, trailing in the bottom of the 5th inning, hit a three-run homer, leading Grizzlies to a successful comeback…

    – Man, Ji Maeng-ho has nothing on him.

    – That’s Ju Seung-cheol for you, haha.

    – Nice! Let’s keep this momentum going!!!!!

    – The ceremony was so classy, lol.

    – Did you see that bastard’s face turn red? What a sore loser, lol.

    – Yeah, his face turned really red.

    – That was so satisfying.

    – But isn’t pointing a bat at a player disrespectful?

    – Those two players are known to be close friends; he was just teasing, haha.

    – Looking back at his previous posts, it seems like Ji Maeng-ho enjoyed the ceremony. Do their fans tend to be possessive like that?

    – Haha, after 20 years of waiting for the fall baseball season, we need to understand. We’re probably the ones moving up anyway.

    -[Pre-PO] Pre-Playoff 3rd game, ‘Ace Showdown’ preview!

    …The AT Thunders announced left-handed ace ‘Jang Yoon’ as their starting pitcher, while the Grizzlies announced ‘foreign ace’ LaDot, building up anticipation. Jang Yoon, who joined AT as a free agent this season, demonstrated what a model free agent looks like with 14 wins, and LaDot played the role of the Grizzlies’ ace, securing a victory in the wild card game. Both teams’ aces are set to unfold…

    – Are there this many aces in such a small country, lol.

    – Well, they are definitely ace-level pitchers.

    – Let’s go for the 3rd game!!

    *

    “Damn, feeling filthy.”

    After the end of the second game, despite having a day of rest, the dirty feeling didn’t dissipate. I could understand being part of the ceremony. I did it too. But I couldn’t forgive myself for missing the chance because of it.

    If I had scored during the opportunity in the bottom of the 5th inning, we could have fiercely contested the game. I was so angry that my emotions at the time prevented me from swinging properly. Although I hit a home run in the next at-bat, it was too late and had no impact on the game. A meaningless home run. That’s all I managed to achieve.

    ‘Today is different. Today…!’

    Even if a similar situation arises as in the last game, I must remain as composed as possible. While taking my swings.

    With that determination, I entered the 3rd game. Opportunities came sooner than expected.

    “Damn, when was the last time we had bases loaded? Feels like the first time in the fall baseball season.”

    Leadoff batter Kim Ju-yeop reached base due to a shortstop error, followed by Kim Soo-ho’s lucky single. With a subsequent walk, it became a bases-loaded situation, the best chance ever. However, even in such a crucial moment, I remained calm unlike ever before.

    “Ball.”

    “Ball.”

    “Strike!”

    “Ball.”

    Waiting for a good pitch inside the strike zone slowly.

    ‘It’s a fastball.’

    ‘Yep. …Huh?’

    And then, the anticipated mistake pitch arrived, and I didn’t miss it, swinging my bat.

    Crack!

    The ball disappearing into the distance. Watching it until it landed in the stands, I threw my bat away.

    “Take that!”

    LaDot spat curses while throwing his glove in clear provocation. It reminded me of my demeanor in the second game, making me chuckle. Seeing my smile, LaDot tipped his cap.

    ‘We’re taking the 3rd game!’

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